MICHAEL Gove’s new reforms to protect farmers might result into another horsemeat scandal when supermarkets and manufacturers were forced to admit their “beef” contained horse DNA, the head of the farmers’ union claimed today.

Micheal Gove's new reforms might result into another horsemeat scandal (Image: Getty)

The Environment Secretary laid out plans for a new Agriculture Bill on Wednesday and introduced new reforms which aim to provide additional assistance to farmers and cut bureaucratic costs linked to the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Under the new Bill, farmers will be paid for “public goods” such as curbing flooding, protecting and increasing wildlife and improving access to the countryside after Brexit.

However, Minette Batters, the head of the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), warned that the Government’s plans do not prioritise food production, but instead encourage cheaper food imports.

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Minette Batters warned that the Government’s plans do not prioritise food production (Image: Getty)

A spokesman for the Environment Department (Defra) commented on the new Bill, saying: “As the Environment Secretary said this morning, the UK’s farmers produce food that is the envy of the world and our Bill will help them become more productive still.